Stories about Colombia from September, 2012
The Gloomy Years of Colombian Television
Since last May [es], ‘pink sauce’ from popular gossip website La Fiscalía has been posting a series on “the gloomy years of Colombian television” [es], where he reviews, tongue-in-cheek and year by year between 1992 and 2012, the most popular mainstream medium in the country. Readers share their memories of...
Colombians Cautiously Optimistic About Peace Talks with FARC
The Colombian government is planning its first set of negotiations with FARC in a decade. While many Colombian bloggers welcome this decision, others do not see the negotiations leading to the end of decades of violence and criminal activities.
Colombia: Chronicling a Mugging
Santiago Ardila Reyes blogs [es] about the mugging he suffered in front of his house for his smartphone, describes how he feels about it, and wonders about the causes of the increasing reports of muggings and murders in Colombia.
Internet Activa: A Course on Digital Rights and Civil Liberties
With the sponsorship of Google and the support of the organization Red Pa Todos, the Karisma foundation has launched Internet Activa, "an open, [free], and digital online course aimed at supporting those who want to actively participate in defending the open, participatory, and free Internet that we know."
Colombia: Political Blog ‘Atrabilioso’ Closes Down
After 7 years and thousands of posts by several contributors, the political blog Atrabilioso, managed by journalist Jaime Restrepo Vásquez, closed last August 31. The blog's contributors were critics of President Juan Manuel Santos‘ administration and staunch supporters of former President Álvaro Uribe.
Colombia: A Love Poem for Bogotá
British writer Vicki Kellaway shares a love poem for Bogotá (Colombia's capital) in her blog Banana Skin Flip Flops.
Internet Activa: Online Course for Digital Activists
From September 14, 2012 to February 15, 2013, the Karisma Foundation [es] (supported by Google Colombia and RedPaTodos [es]) will teach a free, open and digital course [es] “on civil liberties, digital rights, freedom of expression, collective financing for projects, among other topics.” Read more about the course on the Internet Activa (Active Internet) [es] website and follow them...
Colombia Answers with New Promotional Campaign and Slogan
"Where are foreigners welcomed with courtesy, friendship and love? #TheAnswerIsColombia." A new promotional campaign and video was launched by the Colombian government with the slogan "The Answer is Colombia." Countless responses, positive and negative, have been appearing under the hashtag #LaRespuestaEsColombia.
Colombia: Is the Vice Presidency Still Necessary?
[…] in the case of Colombia, the decision to annul the vice presidency should not be based on personal contention. The vice president’s future must be determined based on whether the position places a heavy fiscal burden on taxpayers and its real impact in the decision-making process. Global Voices contributor...
Colombia: Five Key Points for Negotiations with FARC
Bloggings by boz highlights the five key points that President Juan Manuel Santos presented for negotiation in talks with the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia). One of these key points is, The end of armed conflict, including disarming and reintegrating FARC combatants into civilian life. This is what the...
Peru: Colombia-Peru War Remembered 80 Years Later
Eighty years have passed since the taking of Leticia, an Amazonian city which was surrendered to Colombia by Peru in 1929 as a result of the Salamón-Lozano Treaty between the two countries. Various bloggers marked the anniversary on Sept. 1, and several online forums continue to host information and analysis, from Peruvians and Colombians alike, about this war.
Colombia: Guerrilla Group's Peace Negotiation Rap Video
The Colombian government has accepted the start of peace talks with the longest lived guerrilla group in Latin America, FARC (Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces), and in response the group has released a musical rap video.